Santander/Viking Offset of Debt

[dandy1764]

Hello,

 

A few days ago I noticed the balance of our current account was lower than expected as we had just recieved our Benefit Payment from DWP for our Child Tax Credits.

 

We received a letter yesterday from Santander bank account explaining their right to offset any money due to our credit card with Abbey (In Dispute, Consulted CCCS, and advice of token payment of £1.00 where and when possible due to financial position unitil it changes.) They also said in the letter the account was £48. In Arrears.....

 

So today I have been in touch with them and they now claim that they have in fact offset £455. from the bank account when we only received £580 in total from the DWP for the month to help with our children's costs two babys under two.

 

I cannot understand how this can be possible or legal as we are now pretty vulnerable due to this draconian action taken by Santander....they paid the money to Viking Collections....I know a branch of Santander, but strictly speaking a seperate LTD company.

 

They claim we have not been in touch to make arrangements when in fact we have been waiting on them answering our letters regards our request to review the amount outstanding due to financial difficulties.

 

After spending all day ont the phone the Santander/Viking/Santander/ FOS/CCCS I am exhausted and to make matters worse....one of the satff at Viking in there frustration and evilness has passed a Burial Park's Number instead of their collections department...very close match but I recorded the call and have played it back and In my mind it was a malicious act of evil by someone employed by the one of the worlds leading banks SANTANDER>>how can this kind of action by governed by anyone in the UK.

 

Further more on one of my final calls a VIKING member of staff sneered that did I know these calls were costing £1.50per minute and I had been on the phone to them for around 4 hours in total by this time...purely due to their refusal to A/ Let me speak to a supervisor and B/ They would call me back within 48 hours why was I still phoning.

 

We have been left destitute for the rest of the month..unable to pay our mortgage...council tax payments and food and nappy's for the babies......Where is this country's banking industry going?

 

PLEASE can anyone offer advice or action we should take......

 

I feel so angry the FOS have said it may take up to 8 weeks to investigate...I was hoping to get answers today but now who knows...

 

Dandy

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Has there been any news since your post.

[dandy1764]

Hello OldAndrew2007,

 

Thanks for asking.

 

Unfortunately the bank have refused to even deal with this situation on the telephone...they say we have made a complaint and they will be in touch within the 8 Weeks timescale the are allowed.

 

Santander are shocking me the way the have acted and continue to act....I have complained to the FOS and really hope this is not the end of the matter.

 

I have also cancelled all future Child Benefit Payments/Tax Credits from that account and we are now facing bank charges due to no funds in account.....BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THE BANKS I SUPPOSE.

 

We have been stuck in the house with no cash for food and nappy's for kids...it is real testament to our survival that we are eating the stored food and lying low until things improve.

 

The worst thing of all is this kind of action only serves to allienate this bank...I will tell everyone that will listen to my story.....I will shout loudly and may even walk into town 5 miles and shout in the branch while cancelling Direct Debits for Council Tax Etc which I obviously cannot pay now this month.

 

Funny thing is if Viking are meant to be a seperate company...although Santanders in house collection agency...I am not sure why they have the right to access our bank account and go through all past transactions.....Very wrong and in my eyes must be a breach of Data Protection.

 

Thanks for listening....kids dont really notice...only difference is they are now on water and not milk for now.

 

Rgds

Dandy

[WelshMam2009]

I'm interested in the outcome also Dandy as Lloyds are threatening to offset with my account.

 

What concerns me is that I see that they took your Child Tax Credits payment and I was of the (probably mistaken) belief that they shouldn't really touch benefit payments????

 

Can anyone clarify this??

[maroondevo52]

Hi,

 

There's a thread on here about this subject....

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/nationwide/261649-nationwide-c-holders-bank.html

 

 

 

Regards.

 

Scott.

Edited June 2, 2010 by maroondevo52

[Old Cogger]

Get a Parachute account for all your benifits

[spark911]

With regard to the two companies thing, it depends how it was done, if it just went from company A bank account to company A credit card, and company B only advised you of the transaction, then Viking never got the funds and so it was never given to another company.

 

Do you know for sure that it went to Viking? As it's the same group of companies I'd imagine it wouldn't as the debt hasn't be sold on, so to speak, and would remain with the same company.

[dandy1764]

Hello,

 

I am sure the banks do not care where the cash in the account came from or that is childrens allowance for the month for essentials...Child Tax Credits are paid to anyone with children that earn less than (I think 58K pa) on a sliding scale.

 

Parachute account...well I have changed the Tax credits over to another account this month as I cannot allow them to operate in this manner....

 

Viking are the in house collection agency of Santander and have not and cannot buy the debt..,.what concerns me is the fatc the have access to my bank account...past transactions should be covered under the data protection Act...not happy with this.

 

Anyway they have 7 days to refund the cash along with picking up the tab for all the bank charges I have now incurred due to no cash in account....plus compensation.....otherwise the will be receiving a summons without further warning......seeif the courts think this is the way for a foreign company to act in relation to UK banking procedures.

 

Thanks for all support.....we have borrowed this month and are really struggling....everyone is now asking why have you not paid this month....Santander Stole My Cash this month and left is very very vulnerable.

 

Dandy

[Darshand]

I cant speak in regards to any other bank but in regards to santander what has happened here is know as a ROSO and is written in your terms and conditions under condition 5.6, The collections department will not and can not deal with this over the phone once the payment has been taken, you will have to contact either customers relations department or milton keynes department to discuss the matter over the telephone, unfortunately no matter what the source of the funds it is entirely legal to take an amount from your other accounts as it is written into the terms & conditions, the only way you may be able to claim some of this back is if you claim that not enough has been left for your family to live on which is also written into this particular condition.